Rosenhaus presence on Pats’ sideline fuels T.O. rumor

Posted by Mike Florio on November 27, 2011, 4:32 PM EST

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Earlier today, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that an unnamed team is “very interested” in receiver Terrell Owens. A league source tells PFT that the team plays in the AFC, which cuts the universe of candidates in half.

With the Bills and Bengals likely not interested, the pool is down to 14.

Instead of whittling away any more of the teams that won’t want him, let’s focus on those that may. How about the Patriots and the Raiders?

Bolstering the former possibility is, according to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com, the presence of agent Drew Rosenhaus on the Patriots’ sideline before Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Sure, Rosenhaus represents other Patriots. But it’s natural to make the connection, given that Rosenhaus himself told Schefter that a team is “very interested” in Owens.

In Oakland, injuries are creating a possible need. But in New England the absence of a deep threat is keeping the team’s high-octane passing attack from truly firing on all cylinders.

And it would be ironic, to say the least, if a spot is created for Owens in New England via a decision to jettison a former Owens teammate and another Rosenhaus client: Chad Ochocinco. It was Ochocinco who lobbied aggressively for the Bengals to sign T.O. in 2010. With Ochocinco doing basically nothing so far in New England, his performance is creating a possible need for Owens.

Either way, we’re told that nothing is imminent. Which means that whoever is interested is perhaps thinking more about Owens as a guy who could help the team in the postseason. Given the Pats’ only exposure to Owens in the postseason — an MVP-worthy performance in Super Bowl XXXIX — that will make a New England connection more reasonable.

Not to mention this is after Moss was shipped out and not brought back.

slippyal2 says:Nov 27, 2011 4:39 PM

I don’t think he will be speed asset anymore, but I think he can be a red zone threat for them. The only players who are threats in the red zone are Rob and Aaron, TO gives them big WR option on the outside.

Mr. Kraft, yes, I do guarantee my product. Ochocinco didn’t work for ya, huh? I understand. Why don’t you take my Owens model and I’ll knock a few million off for ya? We have a deal?

axltcu says:Nov 27, 2011 4:46 PM

i wonder if Hernandez will give up his number for the second time this year.

tantalizingtitans says:Nov 27, 2011 4:47 PM

I’m not a T.O. fan. But, I’m all for interesting story lines. Nobody can deny that there is potential for a Brady-Owens connection that resembles Brady-Moss. Not saying its likely, but the possibility is worth giving it a shot

I hope Terrell Owens gets back in the NFL and New England would be good since the Patriots do not have a vertical threat. His age is not a factor since he maybe the best conditioned, physical specimen in the NFL. I can see him in New England but I hope he goes to the Texans since no wide reciever opposite Andre Johnson can catch the football.

Actually, if Ocho gets cut by the Pats, it would be very likely that a team that deploys a numbers type playcalling system that Ocho was used to in his 9 year Bengals career could pick him up.

One of the theories of Ocho’s sudden dropoff in production from early in the season could have been learning a new set of terminologies.

Another aspect of this offense is that it’s so complex and mandates that WR’s runs about 3 different routes depending on the presnap reads of the defense and it has to coincide also with what Brady’s is reading in the pocket also.

In another teams offense where Ocho could be asked to run one and ONLY one route before and after the snap could benefit him more than staying with the Pats.

I still think it was a pretty egregious mistake for the Patriots to not trade for Brandon Lloyd earlier this season. Belichick doesn’t even think 6th round picks are valuable anyway.

thejuddstir says:Nov 27, 2011 6:00 PM

Doesn’t make any sense and don’t see it happening. R. Moss is younger, faster and most important, he knows the Pats offense and he and Brady have a connection, something that can’t be overlooked at this stage of the season. We’re always told that next to QB, WR is the toughest position to learn and if OchoStinko can’t learn the playbook after 12 games, how would you expect T.O. to learn it. IF the Pats jettison Ocho, my money would still be on Moss coming back. It would be another feather in Belechiks cap, to release a player to teach him a lesson to keep his mouth shut and have that player bomb in Minny and Tennessee only for Belichek to be the man to show that he can get Moss to perform.

tedmurph says:Nov 27, 2011 6:01 PM

mcjon22 says:Nov 27, 2011 4:44 PM

T.O to New England = desperation
———————————————————-Yup, there’s a desperate team. There’s a game on you know. Pat’s just put up 24 in the 1rst half. Too bad they missed that FG.

You mean to tell me that there are actually people out there stupid enough to believe that Bill Belichik would bother with Mr. can’t get enough of himself Terrell Owens? Next you’ll actually be saying that the Patriots are bringing back Randy Moss-c’mon, it’s not that slow a news day that you need this crap!

tedmurph says:Nov 27, 2011 6:11 PM

Correction, they just took 2nd half kickoff and blew right down the field. And to all you high school benchwarmers that keep posting how Brady is not tough from your miserable cubicles, well never mind. they’ll just edit it anyway.

Or maybe Rosenhaus is just trying to get people to remember Owens is out there and available.

richm2256 says:Nov 27, 2011 7:05 PM

But in New England the absence of a deep threat is keeping the team’s high-octane passing attack from truly firing on all cylinders.
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Yeah, ’cause with 38 points and 7 minutes still left to play, they aren’t scoring nearly enough points.

ae24king says:Nov 27, 2011 7:54 PM

bananagrabber12 says: Nov 27, 2011 5:54 PM

I still think it was a pretty egregious mistake for the Patriots to not trade for Brandon Lloyd earlier this season. Belichick doesn’t even think 6th round picks are valuable anyway.
—————————————–

Yeah I guess Belichick must really be kicking himself for that 2000 6th round, 199th selection – Tom Brady. To say Pats should’ve tried to get Lloyd is one thing. To say that Belichick, a guy who’ll take anyone who just wants to play the game and turn them into somebody, doesn’t like 6th rounders…just a foolish, vague statement. TB12

patsfiend says:Nov 27, 2011 10:43 PM

Owens was never a vertical threat to begin with, and now he’s older and slower. What the heck are you guys talking about? Let Price play if you just need a guy to run wind sprints.

They have the top passing attack in the league. And, BJGE and the boys looked OK to me, today, as well.

I still think it was a pretty egregious mistake for the Patriots to not trade for Brandon Lloyd earlier this season. Belichick doesn’t even think 6th round picks are valuable anyway.
—————————————–

Yeah I guess Belichick must really be kicking himself for that 2000 6th round, 199th selection – Tom Brady. To say Pats should’ve tried to get Lloyd is one thing. To say that Belichick, a guy who’ll take anyone who just wants to play the game and turn them into somebody, doesn’t like 6th rounders…just a foolish, vague statement. TB12